Gerry G's TRAIL OF ASHES TOUR Final Chapter -- The Mighty Californian's return

Honestly, the best I have had is Chances. It's not typical american style pizza, but it just tastes good.

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Originally Posted by gerryg123

Oh, I am not a fool. If there are a lot of people around, I understand I have to wait my turn. But if I ask a server for a drink and she first spends five minutes returning to continue stacking the knives and forks in perfect order, that’s not OK with me.

I’m not boorish, and perhaps not even over-demanding, but I do prefer excellent service.

Not that Sunrise Club was guilty of all this – just the water part – but we’re getting to the end of the report, so I thought I would put it out there.

Also, my loyalty to Famous Vincent is unquestioned. But of the 10 times or so that we met at Seasplash for snorkeling, he left me waiting an average of 30 minutes; that’s five hours of vacation time I could have been doing something else.

So like I said, and maybe it’s a character defect and something I need to work on, but I do NOT like waiting for people when I’m the one spending money and they’re the ones profiting.

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Thanks for your honesty. It also drives me nuts at times, the customer service thing......tired of hearing, "oh it's Jamaican time" or some such thing, heck I've said it myself.

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Originally Posted by gerryg123

. But of the 10 times or so that we met at Seasplash for snorkeling, he left me waiting an average of 30 minutes; that’s five hours of vacation time I could have been doing something else.

So like I said, and maybe it’s a character defect and something I need to work on, but I do NOT like waiting for people when I’m the one spending money and they’re the ones profiting.

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Gerry, Google type A personality or "TABBER", it's not a defect in your personality, rather it's just the way some people roll. Jamaica is not the best place for overly time sensitive people unless they puff puff or drink. BTW, I'm the same way....my GF informs wait people that we need a whole pitcher of water....when the water or drinks stop flowing it not a good thing if someone is wanting a tip/repeat business.....

I know this will come off as snarky but you don't go to Maine or Newfoundland and expect the best steak you've ever had. You also don't go to Dallas for Atlantic lobster. I've followed these reports and I see some Jamaican food which is what I'd stick to while in Jamaica. (Again, I'm sorry that this might come off as impolite; I don't mean it to be) The best pizza I ever had in Jamaica was when Negril was young, maybe 30 or so years ago. There was a shack on the beach (pretty much every place was a shack back then) called Captain Ray and Opals. They served up what I always thought of as a Jamaican pizza. The dough (and crust of course), was similar to dumplins. It was almost like it was Bisquick, not anywhere close to Neapolitan, NY, or Chicago style crust. There was no sauce. The cheese was Jamaican tin cheese, the only kind I ever saw in those days. It was topped with fresh tomato, fresh mushroom, fresh scallion, fresh green pepper, and some seeded fresh Scotch Bonnet pepper. It was delicious.

Instead of doing poor copies of American foods, do Jamaican versions. Most Jamaicans lack initiative. I'm eating Callaloo in a restaurant owned by a Jamaican/British/Indian family. I ask if they ate Saag Paneer back in Britain (it's spinach and yogurt cheese)/ "Oh yes, we love it". I said why don't you make it here with Callaloo? Oh no she said, "it's made with spinach". That in a nutshell is what is wrong with Jamaica. We were leaving immigration a few years ago and passed into the taxi/resort ride area. My wife said that she forgot her suitcase just as we passed the door not 5 feet away from the "No items To Declare" kiosk. The guard could not let her get her bag. We said it's right there, with ID tags on it and you saw us leave. She was not empowered to let us stretch 4 feet back inside; she needed a supervisors OK. I attribute it to Jamaica being a colony where I'm sure no one questioned the status quo.

As far as waiting, well it's something I expect. I would never go out to eat when I was hungry. I'd get too angry. I found that Jamaica has a certain pace and that pace is relaxed.

I don't understand why anyone would want to do blow in Jamaica. It's so anti-laid back.

I found that it's best to go out at certain times like noon or 6, ignore the menu, ask what they have available today, order, and then have adult beverages until the food arrives. You're not in America, don't expect American service. peace :rolleyes:

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At the Seastar Inn bar

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Locals hangin' in front of Pee Wees

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The only sad thing about Sunsets in Negril is one day closer to going home

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At Tedds

Sweet t's!

He needs bumper stickers "I survived Tedd's Shroom Shack"

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Originally Posted by Flipadelphia26

Honestly, the best I have had is Chances. It's not typical american style pizza, but it just tastes good.

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We have not had Angela's but have had Chances many times. Their crust is excellent IMO. We have never been disappointed and their prices are fair.

Soon come can't come soon enough!

I hear ya about the "wait time"....I always have my own bottle of water with me so I don't have to worry about being parched or having a coughing fit with nothing to drink. Sometimes I get the stink eye for bringing my own water into a bar or restaurant, but I always order a bottle of water or soda & quit drinking what I brought when I get served.

Kevin from Norway and some Seastar yardies were all headed to LTU when we split off, with me going to Sunrise, so upon my return, instead of making a left onto Seastar Lane, I kept going a few more yards to LTU.

Turns out, the crew had already finished, but my British scuba friend, the one I'd seen just about every night at dusk at Catcha, happened to be at LTU, so we hung for a bit and talked about dolphins.

Back at Seastar Inn, I partied hard with Brent from Canada but not for too long because I needed a good night sleep. I was leaving the next day, but not until 4 p.m., anbd my M.O. on my bon voyage day is to always wake up early to not waste any daylight.

This was my 12th day away from home, and that's about as long as I can handle being apart from my two young daughters. I go to Negril a few times a year, and it's always the same, the way I miss them. Though I'm divorced, I am incredibly devoted to them, and I treat them like princesses.

The mom not so much. She always guilt-trips the sheet out of me when I get home, and there is always a tax to pay for my indulgences, but by now I've learned it's all part of the gig.

There is a different dynamic to taking a vacation by yourself, one that's hard to put into words. Certainly it's more spiritually uplifting in a lot of ways, compared to going with a lover or a friend. You do a lot of thinking when you're 4,000 miles away from home, and a lot of NOT THINKING, too; an interesting dynamic.

For those who have never been on a vacation by themselves, I highly recommend it. More than just learning about yourself and refreshing yourself and seeing how you can push your limits, there is a rebirth of sorts.

Never, ever, ever have I returned from Jamaica the same person as I had arrived. The island does something special, not to just TO me but FOR me. Most people in the world, even millionaires, would not dare spend $3,000-plus on themselves with nothing tangible to show for it except for maybe a few rasta necklaces, but for me it's more than worth it. Of all the things I've spent money on -- and believe me, I've had some wild ups and downs through the years -- going to Negril is the most satisfying purchase I've ever made.

By far.

Expressing how great it can be to travel to Negril solo, is some of your best writing!!!